Teen jailed for 10 years over 'terrifying' rape at gunpoint

A single mum was subjected to a “terrifying” rape at gunpoint by a teenage burglar high on a cocktail of drink and drugs

A single mum was subjected to a “terrifying” rape at gunpoint by a teenage burglar high on a cocktail of drink and drugs, while her young son played in the next room.

The woman in her 40s, who cannot be named for legal reasons, said the ordeal had a “profound” effect on her and her child, who has never been told the full extent of the crime.

In a victim impact statement, she told Merthyr Tydfil Crown Court that she and her son now sleep in the same bed and keep the windows and doors locked at all times.

She said she has difficulty sleeping at night and when she does sleep, suffers with nightmares.

Tom Crowther, prosecuting, said: “She is fearful of someone breaking in through the garden. She is nervous during the day and cautious of strangers.

“She is nervous of her son playing in the garden and he asks whether the man will return.”

The court heard Jordan James Hobbs, 19, had been drinking heavily the night before and had taken a cocktail of cocaine and valium when he decided to burgle the woman’s house. Mr Crowther told the court the back door was open and the woman had been in and out of the garden seeing to her washing on the afternoon of June 9 at around 1pm.

While outside, she had spotted a knitted hat in the hedge and, believing it belonged to the lad next door, threw it back.

She was on her way back into the house, carrying a stack of clothes from the line, when she came face-to-face with Hobbs, of Madoc Road, Cardiff, who was standing in the hallway.

He was wearing a hooded top with the hood up and was carrying a plastic bag containing an imitation firearm.

“He said he needed £1,000 for a debt and he was not leaving until he got it,” said Mr Crowther.

He forced her upstairs by walking behind her with the gun and when she told him her son was playing in his bedroom, he told her to be quiet.

She was made to look through the bedroom cupboards for gold, because he said he didn’t want silver, despite her saying she had none.

“After 10 minutes she had produced a bracelet and silver chain and he said it was not enough,” said Mr Crowther.

“He said there was something more that he wanted from her and told her to take her trousers off.”

For a few moments, nothing happened.

“He told her to get on her knees and bend over the bed,” said Mr Crowther.

Holding a gun to her head, he raped her.

“It seemed to her that he was copying something from the television or fiction,” said Mr Crowther.

He was caught when his DNA was found on the bedroom floor.

“She was uninjured but angry and embarrassed by what had happened,” said Mr Crowther.

The woman told him to leave and to take whatever he wanted, as long as he didn’t hurt her child.

He asked for her laptop computer and was shocked when she said she didn’t have one.

“She was targeted on the basis of her perceived wealth but the house was rented,” said Mr Crowther.

She realised he had already been in the house before when she looked for her bank card and he said that her purse was outside.

She then gave him her card’s pin number and CCTV footage at a nearby shop showed Hobbs trying the bank card repeatedly but unsuccessfully.

“He threatened her that if the pin number was wrong he would return... and he said not to phone the police because he would be watching,” said Mr Crowther.

The woman’s sister turned up moments later as she was phoning the police and, on learning what happened, spotted the defendant and chased after him.

“She sent text messages to her sister’s mobile phone knowing he had it and he agreed to give back the phone for £500,” said Mr Crowther.

Christopher Rees, defending Hobbs, who has convictions for burglary, said: “He has expressed genuine remorse and shame for his involvement in this wicked crime.

“He described the offences as disgusting and he clearly understands fully the psychological trauma inflicted upon his victim.

“He recollects nothing that went on in the house. He had been drinking heavily the night before and had taken cocaine and valium.”

Recorder of Cardiff Eleri Rees sent Hobbs to a young offender institution for 10 years and made him the subject of a restraining order.

She told him: “You claim to have no memory of the incident yourself but one thing for certain is that she will never forget the events that took place that day.

“This was a terrifying, prolonged ordeal in which she was subjected to fear and humiliation at gunpoint knowing her son was in the bedroom next door.

“You targeted the property thinking she was wealthy.

“This was the worst kind of invasion to a woman’s privacy in what should have been a safe haven.

“It was a pitiless and life scarring crime and it is clear that this had a profound impact on her and her son.”

The gun was ordered to be forfeited and destroyed and Hobbs will sign on as a sex offender for life.

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